Caltrops - a Device Built After Nature

Edward C. · 29th September 2023, 03:32 AM

My friend stepped on one in a rice paddy. Modern version. Spent mortar shell base with two 8" barbed steel spikes sticking out. He still has it-with the one spike cut off by the field hospital.
It had been in the dirt for a while, he felt the base , recognized what it was, and was yelling at his guys to back off- there were roots around it and he thought in the heat of moment (there was lots of other stuff going on) that they were wires and it was booby trapped with a charge.
Humorous, 55 years after the fact.

Andi · 2nd October 2023, 07:05 PM

You can't underestimate the efficiency of caltorps. When they lie in the grass you do not recognize them. And if you are a late medieval infantry, equipped with helmet and visor, through which you see even less, and have to rush the enemy, you have absolutely no chance. In this respect, scanning the battlefield would make absolute sense, provided there is a chance to do so before the battle.

Especially in view of the large quantities in which these caltrops were purchased and stocked. In 1642, the city of Hamburg alone had over 23,959 pieces, and at the Coburg fortress there are still large chests full of them today.

However, from the late Middle Ages, I am so far only aware of the mentions in the Bellifortis and war technical manuscripts, but no factual reports of scanning and cleaning them from the battle fields.

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29th September 2023, 03:32 AM	#1
Edward C. Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 15	My friend stepped on one in a rice paddy. Modern version. Spent mortar shell base with two 8" barbed steel spikes sticking out. He still has it-with the one spike cut off by the field hospital. It had been in the dirt for a while, he felt the base , recognized what it was, and was yelling at his guys to back off- there were roots around it and he thought in the heat of moment (there was lots of other stuff going on) that they were wires and it was booby trapped with a charge. Humorous, 55 years after the fact.

2nd October 2023, 07:05 PM	#2
Andi Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Halstenbek, Germany Posts: 203	You can't underestimate the efficiency of caltorps. When they lie in the grass you do not recognize them. And if you are a late medieval infantry, equipped with helmet and visor, through which you see even less, and have to rush the enemy, you have absolutely no chance. In this respect, scanning the battlefield would make absolute sense, provided there is a chance to do so before the battle. Especially in view of the large quantities in which these caltrops were purchased and stocked. In 1642, the city of Hamburg alone had over 23,959 pieces, and at the Coburg fortress there are still large chests full of them today. However, from the late Middle Ages, I am so far only aware of the mentions in the Bellifortis and war technical manuscripts, but no factual reports of scanning and cleaning them from the battle fields.